Displaying A Maintenance Reminder On An Apparatus For Supplying Medical Nitric Oxide

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus ( 1 ) for supplying an NO-containing gas, comprising an internal circuit ( 6 ) for conveying a flow of NO-containing gas, comprising valve means ( 7 ), control means ( 8 ) with a microprocessor ( 9 ), a tactile graphical display screen ( 4 ), and a gas analysis line ( 111 ) comprising at least one sensor ( 112 ). The control means ( 8 ) are configured to control, at a given time frequency, a temporary display, on the graphical display screen ( 4 ), of a first virtual selection key ( 81 ), the actuation of which by a user initiates a procedure of calibration of the sensor or sensors ( 112 ) of the gas analysis line ( 111 ).

1 . Apparatus ( 1 ) for supplying an NO-containing gas, comprising:
 an internal gas circuit ( 6 ) for conveying a flow of NO-containing gas, comprising valve means ( 7 ),   control means ( 8 ) with a microprocessor ( 9 ),   a tactile graphical display screen ( 4 ) controlled by the control means ( 8 ), and   a gas analysis line ( 111 ) comprising at least one sensor ( 112 ) electrically connected to the control means ( 8 ),   characterized in that the control means ( 8 ) are configured to control, at a given time frequency, a temporary display, on the graphical display screen ( 4 ), of at least a first virtual selection key ( 81 ), the actuation of which by a user causes initiation, by the control means ( 8 ), of a procedure of calibration of the one or more sensors ( 112 ) of the gas analysis line ( 111 ).   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first virtual selection key ( 81 ) cooperates with the control means ( 8 ), in order to supply them with at least one control signal corresponding to a choice made by the user corresponding to the initiation of the sensor calibration procedure. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the control means ( 8 ) are further configured to control a display, on the graphical display screen ( 4 ), of at least one item of information ( 80 ) relating to one or more safety checks to be carried out, in particular of the sensor calibration procedure. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the control means ( 8 ) are configured to control the display of said at least one item of information ( 80 ) and/or of the first virtual selection key ( 81 ) at a time frequency of at least once a day. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the control means ( 8 ) are configured to further control a display of a second virtual selection key ( 82 ) simultaneously or successively to said first virtual selection key ( 81 ), said second virtual selection key ( 82 ) being configured to cancel or reject said sensor calibration procedure in response to a user actuation of the second virtual selection key ( 82 ). 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the control means ( 8 ) are configured to control a simultaneous display of said at least one item of information ( 80 ) and of the first and optionally second virtual selection keys ( 81 ,  82 ). 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the control means ( 8 ) control the valve means ( 7 ) in order to control the flow of gas in the internal gas circuit ( 6 ), so as to permit or stop any circulation of gas in said internal gas circuit ( 6 ). 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one sensor ( 112 ) comprises one or more electrochemical cells. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the control means ( 8 ) are configured to control the simultaneous display of said at least one item of information ( 80 ) and of the first and optionally second virtual selection keys ( 81 ,  82 ) within a pop-up window ( 84 ). 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the control means ( 8 ) are configured to control the display of said at least one item of information ( 80 ) and/or of the first virtual selection key ( 81 ) at a time frequency of 1 to 4 times a day, preferably 1 or 2 times a day. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 3 , characterized in that it comprises storage means configured to store the safety check procedure or procedures, in particular the sensor calibration procedure. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the control means ( 8 ) are further configured to control a display, on the graphical display screen ( 4 ), of a third virtual selection key ( 83 ), the actuation of which by the user causes a discontinuation of a calibration procedure that has started. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the control means ( 8 ) are further configured to control a display, on the graphical display screen ( 4 ), of a time graph ( 85 ) representing the time that has elapsed since the start of the calibration procedure and/or the time remaining before the termination of the calibration procedure, in particular a time graph representing a bar graph or an hourglass. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the control means ( 8 ) are further configured to control a simultaneous display, on the graphical display screen ( 4 ), of the third virtual selection key ( 83 ) and of the time graph ( 85 ). 
     
     
         15 . Installation ( 100 ) for administering gas to a patient, comprising:
 at least one gas source ( 10 ) containing gaseous NO, in particular an NO/N 2  gas mixture,   a gas supply apparatus ( 1 ) according to  any one of the preceding claims , fed with NO-containing gas by said at least one gas source ( 10 ),   a medical ventilator ( 50 ) for supplying an oxygen-containing gas, and   a gas feed line ( 21 ) supplied with gas by the gas supply apparatus ( 1 ) and by the medical ventilator ( 50 ).